Refrigerating apparatus



Jail- 1930. A. M. THOMSON 7 1,742,622

REFRI GERAT ING APPARA'IU S Filed June 10, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEYS Jan. 7 1930.

Filed June 10. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 v N l L3 i? 7 rLi: v INVENTOR I ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 7 1930 UNITEDTSTATES PATENT OFFICE v ALFRED moRRIs rezomson, or NEWARK, 'nEw JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro :rosnrn MERCADANTE, 01 NEW YO K, N. Y.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed June 10,

. ue in the com ressedrefri erant and a pressure-reducing valve through which the liquefied refrigerant passes to the refrigeration element. A rotary pump is suitable for use as a means'for compressing the ga'sified refrigerant, and when such a pump is used, it is necessary to provide a suitable sealing fluid, such as oil, for sealing the movable joints in the pump mechanism. Due to the heat generated in the pump and to the rush of com-' pressed refrigerant therethrough, a certain amount of the sealing fluid forms into minute particles and is carried with the refrigerant into the condenser and ultimately into the refrigeration element. In this manner, the seal ing fluid accumulates in the refrigerating element, thereby depriving the pump of an effective sealing means and reducing the heat absorbing efficiency of the refrigeration element by fouling the interior surfaces thereof.

Various expedients such as cooling the sealing fluid and passing the refrigerant through filtering means upon leaving the pump having been suggested and employed to maintain the sealing fluid in the pump, but a certain amount of this fluid nevertheless mingles with the refrigerant and accumulates in oration element.

\Vith the above and other considerations, in mind-it is a principal object of the present invention to provide apparatus for use in con- .the refrig- 1927. Serial 110 197388.

nection with the refrigeration element of a refrigerating system for extracting the sealing fluid from this element. and returning this fluid to the pump; In refrigerating systems of the type concerned in' this invention, the refrigerant flows into the refrigeration unit in liquid form, and there boils or gasifies and form. The sealing fluid does not gasifybut is drawn. back to the compressor in gaseous i floats in a thin layer on the surface of the liquid refrigerant in the refrigeration unit. According to the present invention, means are provided for maintaining the mouth of an outlet pipe at all times at the level of the liquid refrigerant in the refrigeration 'element, thus skimming the sealing fluid from the refrigerant and returning it to the pump. In order that the sealing fluid outlet may be maintained at the surface of the liquid regardless of changes in the liquid level, the outlet is movably supported by floating 'means, and this float is also employed to support the outlet for the .gasified refrigerant above the surface of the liquid.

Other specific objects, advantages and. characteristic features of the present'invention will become apparent as the description thereof progresses r In describlng the invention 1n detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which; I

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in secvtion of a refrigerator equipped with a refrigerating system embodying the present invention;

I Fig. 2is an elevation of thecooling chamber of the refrigerator, showing certain details of the refrigeration element;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the outlet valve 8 of the refrigeration element;

Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of the cool? ing chamber and the refrigeration element.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the-refrigeration element, showing the details of the outlet apparatus; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the outlet apparatus.

Referring to thedraw ings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the refrigerating system embodying the present invention has been shown. installed m a refrigerator of a con-.

ventional type. This refrigerator may be of any suitable form, and as shown generally comprises an apparatus compartment A, a cooling chamber 0 and a food or storage chamber F, the cooling and storage chambers being surrounded by suitable heat insulating walls W. The cooling chamber 0- and the storage chamber F are separated by a vertical partition 1 having openings 2 at the top and bottom thereof as shown to permitthe-free circulation of air between these compartments. A plurality of shelves 3 are provided in the storage chamber F, being supported in any suitable manner from the walls of this compartment.

The compressing, condensing and pressurereducing means of the refrigerating system are located in the apparatus compartment A. The compressor comprises a suitable pump4, preferably of the rotary'or gear type, driven by an electric motoror other source of power 5 through a shaft 6. Suitable condenser coils 7 are located adjacent the pump 4, and a an 8 is provided on the drive shaft 6 for cooling the condenser coils 7. Suitable ventilating openings 9 are preferably provided in the side walls of the apparatus compartment A to permit the free circulation of cooling air therethrough. A suitable pressure-reducing valve is preferably provided in connection with the system. This valve may take any suitable form, and in the embodiment shown comprises a float actuated valve of the type described in detail in my co-pending application, Serial N 0. 149,844, filed Nov. 22, 1926.,

Asthe valve V is not an essential element of the present invention, it will notbe described herein, it beingsuflicient to state that this valve acts to permit the liquefied refrigerant [to flowv into the refrigeration element at a reduced pressure.

The refrigerationielement, designated as I B, may take any suitable form, and as shown comprises two parallel horizontally disposed drums or headers 10 and 11 connected by a plurality: of rows of parallel tubes 12 which are spaced apart as shown to form freezing.

compartments 13 therebetweenl The tubes 12may be formed integrally with the headers 10 and 11, or may be'secured to openings therein in'any suitable manner. A large metallic block 40 is preferably located within the upper header 10, and serves to absorb heat when the compressor of the refrigerating system is not in operation thereby maintaining therefrigerator at a substantially even temperature. The freezing compartments 13 are preferably provided with a plurality of shelves-d4 for holding receptacles in which liquids may be frozen. A front cover plate 15 having an opening 16 therein, is secured to the front of the refrigeration shown in Fig. 4, and a door or closure 19. is hinged or otherwise suitably secured over the opening :16 arid serves to close the freezing compartments 13.

The upper drum or header 10 of the refrigeration unit R is preferably formed with element R by suitable brackets 17 and'18' as y The valve mechanisms employed in the fittings 26 and 27 may take any suitable form, but are preferably of the type shown in detail in Fig. 3 wherein thevalve mechanism of the fitting 27 has been illustrated, it being understood that the valve mechanism of the fitting 26 is preferably of similar construction. The valve construction comprises a sleeve member 28, screw threadedly secured to an opening in a valve chamber 29 formed in the fitting 27.

A valve stem 30 has a threaded connection with the central bore 31 of the \sleeve 28, and a suitable packingsubstance 32, such as oiled wicking, is compressed between the outer. portion of the stem 30 and the enlarged outer re of the sleeve 28 by means ofa packing ut 33. The outer end 34 of the valve stem valve, and the outer end of the sleeve 28 is closed by a plug 35'as shown. I f

- Integral with or /suitably secured to the inner end of .the valve stem 30 is a tapered plug or gate 36.- This gate is adapted when the valve stem 30 is in its inner position, to seat against and close the openiilg 37 of the passage 38 in the fitting 27, and when the stem 30 is inits outer or open position, to seat against and close the opening in the inner end of the sleeve 28.

With the constiiuction described, when the valve is in its open position, the plug 36 keeps the refrigerant from entering the central bore of the sleeve 28 and thus prevents the 3i) is preferably slotted or otherwise formed I for the reception of a tool foroperating the corrosion of the metal parts or the rotting v p of the packing material by the refrigerant.

When the valve is closed, the refrigerant is cut-off from the valve chamber 29 and hence it does not come into contact with the moving parts of the valve. Thus the valve operating and packing mechanism is only exposed to the refrigerant While being moved from flan 39, and a plug 43 is threaded into the end of the fitting as shown, this plug serving to hold the fitting within the boss 39 and to close the end of the fitting. Thehorizontal-open ing in'the boss 39 communicates with the outlet opening in the head 22, and an enlarged opening 44 is provided in the fitting 41 in such a position that communication between the outlet opening 25 and the interior of -the fitting 41 is maintained even though thefitting 1s turned to an appreciable angle rela tive to the boss 39. A pipe 45 is secured to the free end of the angle fitting 41 and the outer end of this pipe is secured to an outlet angle fitting 46. The-fitting 46 comprises a large pipe angle having an upwar extending opening 47 and an integral extension 48 with a circular opening therein as shown in Fig.4. A small passage or opening 49 extends from the interior of the fitting 46 to the interior of the opening in the extention 48, this passage 49 being substantially in alignment with the axis of -the.pipe as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. A spherical hollow metal float 50 is provided to support the outlet mechanism, this float having a radially disw 4o posed stud 51 thereon which is inserted within the openingin the extension 48 of the fitting 46, and clamped therein by a set screw 52. The stud 51 is provided with an angular'passage 53 which connects with the pas- 45 sage 49 in the fitting 46 and opens into the interior of the drum 10 at a point in substantial alignment with a horizontal axis of the float 50 lying parallel to the axis of movement of the fittin 41. The outlet pipe 45, the fittings 41 an 46, and the float 50 are so constructed and arranged that the outlet opening 53 is at all times maintained at the surface of the liquid in the drum 1( the opening 47 beingsupported at a' point well above v 55 the liquid surface as shown in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, suitable pipes are provided for connecting the outlet of the compressor to the condenser coils 7, the coils 7 to the pressure-reducing-valve V, the valve V to the inlet valve fitting 26 of the refrigeration element R, and the outlet valve fitting of the refrigeration unit to the inlet of the compressor 4. In operation, the gaseous refrigerant is'compressed by the pump 4 and passes into the condenser 7 where it is cooled and liquefied'b airfrom the fan 8 on the motor shaft. The liqluid refrigerant then passes through the va ve V and flows into the upper drum 10 of the refrigeration unit B through inlet valve fitting 26. The liquid refrigerant circulates through tubes 12 her is absorbed, the refrigerant boils or gasifies and passes into the upper part of the drum 10. From the drum 10, the gaseousandthelower header 11. o f the refrigeration element, and as heat from the cooling chamrefrigerant passes through the opening. 47

in the fitting 46, through the pipe 45, the angle'fitting 41, the opening 44 and the passage 25 to the outlet valve fit ing 27 and back to the'pump 4, thus comple ing the cycle.

As stated above, a quantity of sealing fluid,

such-as oil, is introduced'mto the .pump 4 to form a gas-tight seal anda lubricant for the moving parts of the pump, and a certain amount of this fluid is carrled into the refrigeration element with the liquefied refrigerant. The sealing fluid floats on the surface of the refrigerant in the drum 10 and is car-. ried back to the. pump 4 through passages 53 and 49. As the opening of the passage 53 is at all times maintained at the surface of the liquid refrigerant in the drum 10, the sealing fluid floating on this surface is continuously drawn ofl" through the passage 53 regardless of changes in the liquid level-within the drum. The opening of the passage 53 is so located and of such a size that very little if any of the liquid refrigerant passes able feature, as it is essential to the economil cal operation ofthe system that substantially all of the liquid refrigerant be gasified with- \in the refrigerationunit, and that'none of the refrigerant. be returned to the pump in liquid form. 3

i The described outlet means for the ref-rigeration element when employed in connection with a refrigerating system of the general type disclosed, efl'ectiv'ely prevents the accumulation of sealing fluid within the refrigeration element, returning this fluid to the compressor where it again serves to lubricate and seal the moving parts thereof. At the same time, the outletmeans returns only the gaseous refrigerant to the compressor, thereby enabling the system to operate in an efficient manner. The outlet means is extremely simple in construction and is therefore inexpensive to manufacture, and not likely to get out of order.v 4

Although the refrigerating system embodying the present invention has been disclosed in connection with a single specific construction and arrangement of elements, it is to be understood that various changes, modifications, additions and omissions may be made in the construction and arrangement of both taining said opening at'the surface 25 the outlet means and the refrigerating system as' a whole, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. r

I claim:

tion with a refrigeration element including a container, and means for supplying a liquid refrigerant to said container, an outlet pipe for said container and means'associated with said pipe for maintaining the opening of said pipe at the level of the liquid in'said container, whereby the surface liquid in said container is drawn off through said outlet pipe. c

2. In a refrigerating system of the type employing a refrigeration unit including a container and means .for supplying a lique fied refrigerant to said container, an outlet for said container comprising a pipe movably mounted Within said container and-having an opening therein, and a float secured Qtosaid pipe adjacent said opening for mainof the liquid in the said container. 3. In a refrigerating system of the type in which a refrigerant in the liquidstate is suppliedto a container and gasifies within said container, an outlet means for said container comprising a pipe having two openings therein, and means associated with said pipe for maintaining one of said openings at the surface of the liquid in said container to form an outlet for the gasified refrigerant and for maintaining the other of said openings at the surface of the liquid refrigerant for skimming foreign matter from the surface of said liquid.

4. In a refrigerating'system of the type in which a compressing device containing a seal mg fluid is employed to compress a refrigerant which is subsequently liquefied, supplied to a refrigerating container in the liquid state, and permitted to gasify in said container, means for Withdrawing the gasified refrigerant and the sealing fluid from said container comprising an outlet duct movably supported within said container, said duct ing fluid is employed to compress a refriger' ant which is subsequently liquefied, supplied to a refrigerating container in the liquid state, and permitted to gasify in said container, means for withdrawing the gasified refrigerant and the sealing fluid from said container comprising an outlet pipe movably supported within said container and com- 1. In a refrigerating system, in combina-.

having a first outlet opening therein for rewhich a compressing device containing a sealv a a 4 ,municating with an opening in said container,

said pipe having two outlet openings therein and means for moving said pipe in accordance with changes in the liquid level in said container, one of said openings being maintained at the surface of the liquid in said container and the other of said openings being maintained in a position above said surface.

6. In a refrigerating system of the type in which a compressing device containing a sealing fluid is employed to compress a refrigerant .which is subsequently liquefied, supplied to a refrigerating container in the liquid state, and permitted to gasify in said container, means for withdrawing the sealing fluid from said container comprising an outlet pipe hingedly'supported from one end within said container and communicating with an outlet opening in said container, said pipe having an outlet opening at a point re- .moved from the hin edly supported end thereof, and means or maintaining said pipe in such a position relative to the liquid in said'container that said'opening in said pipelies at the surface of said liquid regardless of changes in the level of said liquid.

7. In a refrigerating system of the type in which'a compressing device containing. a sealing fluid is employed tocompress a refrigerant which is subsequently liquefied,

supplied to a refrigerating container in the liquid state, and permitted to gasify in said container, outlet apparatus for withdrawing the sealing fluid from the refrigerating container comprising an outlet pipe within said container movablyconncted at one end in communication w th an outlet opening in said container, said pipe having an opening therein adjacent the free-end thereof, and a float for supporting said pipe with said opening at the surface of the liquid refrigerant in said container.

8. In a refrigerating system of the type I 'in whicha compressing'device containing a sealing fluid is employed to compress a refrigerant which is subsequently liquefied, supplied to a refrigerating container in the liquid state, and permitted to gasify in said container, outlet apparatus for withdrawing the sealing fluid from the refrigerating container comprising an outlet pipe within said container movably connected at one end to said container in connection with an outlet opening in said container, and a spherical ,flo at supporting the free end of said pipe,

said pipe having an openingtherein in substantial alignment with an axis of said float parallel to the axis of movement of said pipe, 9. In a refrigerating system of the type in tainer, outlet apparatus for withdrawing. thef sealing fluid. from the refrigerating container comprising an outlet pipe withm said container, means for hingedly supporting one end of said pipe in connnunication with an. opening'in said container whereby the free end of said pipe may move vertically in said container, and a spherical float connected to the free end of said pipe,.said pipe having an opening therein adjacent its free end and substantially aligned with a horizontal axis of said float lying parallel to the axis of movement of said pipe.

10. In a refrigerating system of the type in which a compressing device containing a sealing fluid is employed to compressa refrigerant which is subsequently liquefied, supplied to a refrigerating container in the liquid state, and permitted to gasify in said container, outlet apparatus for withdrawing the sealing fluid from the refrigerating container comprising an outlet pipe within said container, means for hingedly supporting one end of said pipe in communication with an opening in said container whereby the free end of said pipe may move verticallyin said container, the free end of said pipe having an upwardly extending elbow with an'opening therein and a second opening adjacent the corner of said elbow, and a float secured to the free end of said'pipe whereby said first opening is supported above the surface of the liquid in said container and said second a liquid refrigerant to a container, said refrigerant gaslfying within said container,

and a. movably mounted float supported outletv pipe within said container, said pipe having opening is supported at said liquid surface regardles of changes in the level of the liquid. 11. Outlet means for a liquid container comprlsing an outlet pipe pivotally mounted 7 within said container in comunication with an opening in said container'and a float for supporting the free end of said pipe, said pipe havlng an opening therein which is maintained at the surface of the liquid. in said container by said float, and having another opening above said first opening.

12. Outlet means for a liquid container comprising an outlet'pipe within said contalner, means for pivotally supporting one end of said pipe in communication with an opening in said container, said pipe having an opening adjacent the free end thereof, and

a float for supporting the freeendof said pipein a position such that said opening is maintained at the surface of the liquid in said container regardless of changes in the*-- liquid level. 13. In a refrigerating system, a refrigeration unit including a container fofliquid and a gaseous refrigerant, means for supplyinga refrigerant tosaid container in liquid form, and movable means acting simultaneously to withdraw the; gasif ied refrigerant from said container and to skim foreign liquid from the surface of the liquefied refrigerant in said container.

14. In a refrigerating system, a refrigeration unit compressing means for supplying 

